Friction hitches for climbing lines

alba · 18th April 2007, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

Generally you should use a diameter smaller than your climbing line.

The loop is usually tied together with a double fishermans but I have seen spliced ones.

I girth hitch it to the carabiner so it doesn't slide around.

You can have 4 or 6 wraps, try it out for yourself, but not at 100' please!

The advantage of this hitch is it's multi-directional, unlike the Blakes if you get to the end of you climbing line you can use the tail and keep on going ... works in either direction. Due to this fact, and also it will grip if you just let go I think it's relatively bulletproof and usually get the new guys climbing on it.

The disadvantage is it's a smaller hitch and I get finger burns, it can get too grippy and need dressing again.

Great idea using the girth hitch ekka never thought of doing that before will give it a try, never climbed much with blakes hitchs myself allways spliced my own prussics, but just ordered some marlow gecko ropes and new prussic cordage so will start to experament with new methods, thax for the pics thow.

Eric Frei · 18th April 2007, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alba

allways spliced my own prussics, but just ordered some marlow gecko ropes and new prussic cordage so will start to experament with new methods, thax for the pics thow.

Do you splice your own rope ... good one, I can only splice 3 strand!

Also, according to this diagram http://www.marlowropes.com/public/pa...fm?page_id=250 they put a tag on the end of the rope near the splice, that would have to be a PITA, does it get stuck in crotches when you are pulling your rope out? If that was on the end of my line it would get stuck 100% of the time in palm heads.

alba · 22nd April 2007, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

Do you splice your own rope ... good one, I can only splice 3 strand!

Also, according to this diagram http://www.marlowropes.com/public/pa...fm?page_id=250 they put a tag on the end of the rope near the splice, that would have to be a PITA, does it get stuck in crotches when you are pulling your rope out? If that was on the end of my line it would get stuck 100% of the time in palm heads.

the marlows still have not arrived yet but have climbed with the yale ropes before and never had any problems with them at least not on the Angiosperms that i have climbed, but they can get stuck on some of the Gymnosperms mostly sitka causes probs , not so much of a prob with Gymnosperms such as Pinus sylvestris, i like this place people actually talk to you makes a change. oh yes for got to say that anyone in the uk i got my ropes from http://www.abbeypro.co.uk/ i was ?55 for a 25m 13 mm sewn eye rope and ? 70 for a 35m 13mm sewn eye rope, and ?12 for 4x 9mm at 1.8m each this included vat and postage prity good price i thought if you stay in the uk it might be worth your while looking them up they are less price than some other suppliers i have delt with and very helpful, no i do not work for them, thanx for replying ekka great place to be when haave spare time, just thought i would the real name is joe the alba is the old word for scotland.

Marc · 12th May 2007, 11:32 AM

Been climbing on that Marlow rope for a while now Alba, its o.k cheap rope, fairly robust, my only complaint is its to hard compared to Yale or New England.
But its a vast improvement over there old rope.

Most Arb suppliers are selling it cheap now so it is good value.

Fairfield looked at our knot I really like the bee-line hitch cord, its damn expensive stuff though. I've only used the bee-line with a knute, yours looks like a distil?
Do you have the legs long because of the splice or is that how you prefer it?
I tie mine with fishermans because its simpler adjustable and i can make the legs shorter, beside's i can go through hitch cord pretty quick.

I'll post pics of my set-up soon

TREE-SURFER · 16th May 2007, 07:50 AM

I just got myself one of those ART rope devices, looks good

Just waiting for a chance to use it......

newguy18 · 28th June 2007, 01:04 PM

Am i the only one who perfers the taut line hitch?

Eric Frei · 28th June 2007, 08:34 PM

Everyones into split tails these days, tautline is like vintage material but some vintages prefer it.

Sean Freeman · 28th June 2007, 09:09 PM

Its been a long while since i spent the whole day climbing and cutting but when i do (and I will again) I reduce the amount of gear on my harness dramatically, so in traversing the canopy or from tree to tree with ground support (new TIP set from ground by Tim) I'll use the tail of my line tie a figure 8 and use a tautline I like it for that application, simple and reliable.

jim1nz · 1st July 2007, 02:14 AM

Im on the new Ocean polyester 10mm, EXCELLENT.

I run a VT set up, i can give you a picture if anyone is interested. Variations are massive with this knot but when you get it right its perfect, selftailing, smooth...

It has the polyester core insteed of the spectra core as the melting point is much higher, the sheath contains carbon fibre composite material so it lasts a long time also.

jtrouse · 1st July 2007, 12:30 PM

Just wondered where you got the ocean polyster from? is it the stuff the the stiching or have you just spliced it?

JohN Dee · 1st July 2007, 08:30 PM

I personally climb on a Martin hitch, smooth as ascent, and a nice lock when your sitting on it. It self tends and with the micro pulley it's smooth as.

jim1nz · 1st July 2007, 11:44 PM

You can get it from Tree Pro - Tim Sharp, hes got a thread on this website.

I have just got a fishermans on one end and a fisherman stopper on the other through a fixe pulley. This just saves room on the biner. I never splice my own prussics, its too much work for mot much at all, the machine stiched splices are nice though.

OsAGe85 · 3rd August 2007, 09:51 AM

Taut line hitch is the only one I know. I've been practicing in some trees in the yard and it seems to loosen up a lot. I'd definately like to try a few knots, any good recomendations.

Eric Frei · 3rd August 2007, 02:36 PM

I take a Blakes, 5 coil wrap though, tail goes thru coil 3

newguy18 · 3rd August 2007, 03:32 PM

I still tail tie climb with the tautline it just seems to fit my style better.

TREE-SURFER · 4th August 2007, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohN Dee

I personally climb on a Martin hitch, smooth as ascent, and a nice lock when your sitting on it. It self tends and with the micro pulley it's smooth as.

Hi John, have been looking for a picture of a martin hitch, can't find one. Any chance a loading 1 up for us?

JohN Dee · 5th August 2007, 01:07 PM

Yeah no worries Tree Surfer, i'm going rec climbing today i'll take a pic for you of my set up.

Manx_Tree · 6th August 2007, 03:06 AM

Klemhiest all the way!

Manx_Tree · 6th August 2007, 03:13 AM

Its a nice small knot made on a 'Prussak' loop but so much better than the prussak knot. It never binds up but locks straight away. Try it.

TreeCo · 6th August 2007, 03:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TREE-SURFER

Hi John, have been looking for a picture of a martin hitch, can't find one. Any chance a loading 1 up for us?

Here is a photo of what I believe to be the Martin hitch.

newguy18 · 6th August 2007, 03:11 PM

Still like my tautline.

Victor Lindsay · 15th August 2007, 11:45 AM

Hello all:
First post!

I use the blakes hitch and a micro pulley when working a tree. I've tried the VT, but find it difficault to body thrust with, maybe I'm not setting it up correctly, but it works great for rigging a 5-1. I use the Klemheist to foot lock, (binds less than the prusik), and use the prusik to balance rigging. I've never tried the tautline, and have heard nothing but bad about it, so probably never will.

vl2007

Eric Frei · 15th August 2007, 04:28 PM

Good on you and welcome

I'm sure a few Vt lovers will sort out that hitch, maybe post a pic of it.

TREE-SURFER · 16th August 2007, 08:41 AM

Looks pretty good that TreeCo. Might try that when next I do so climbing. Don't know about the body thrusting with it though, so would probably still use my Blakes on a split tail.

Eric Frei · 16th August 2007, 08:57 PM

Surfer,

The guys climbing on those Vt style things dont bodythrust.

They have a small prussik minding pulley or dog clip under it and pull down on the rope above the hitch and the hitch allows the tail of the rope to pass easily .... of course the higher you are the easier this happens as there's more weight in the rope.

newguy18 · 17th August 2007, 02:02 AM

Has anyone tried a micropulley on a tauline hitch yet?Does it work okay?I figured I would ask before I tried it.

Victor Lindsay · 17th August 2007, 11:48 PM

I'll try that. The vt is very smoooooth once you tweak it, and if i could body thrust with it, it maybe my new hitch.
Thx for the info.
I'll be trying the srt system soon, I don't like all the hardware needed to make it work, but hey, I didn't like the vt idea until now eather.

JohN Dee · 19th August 2007, 09:07 PM

Yes TreeCo, that is the Martin's.

Surfer, the Martins and body thrusting is a pain in the azz. The best way to tie it i've found is to keep the legs on the hitch short... But having said that the part of the hitch where the top wrap comes back down and goes behind and through the bottom wrap loves to creep around the back of the hitch releasing the friction resulting in yourself slowly creeping down your climbing line... I'm always onto this and have been experimenting with more/less wraps to try and fix it, but nothing has worked so far. Soon, if I can't find a way to make that part of the hitch static, i'm going to switch hitches because it is damned annoying.

OsAGe85 · 23rd August 2007, 06:10 AM

I'm working on using a micro pulley with a tautline. I figure it should work well since there are only 4 loops. (my version) any way.

Recon Freak · 14th September 2007, 12:00 PM

I climb on the VT and body thrust with it. I use a cabiner with the termination knot clipped to my harness. My VT is on a second carabiner. I then put a quick hitch on the termination side of my line about eye level with a little tension on the line. I clip the hitch carabiner into the quick hitch and I'm ready to go. When I get to work position I clip my hitch back to my saddle.

16th May 2007, 07:50 AM	#35
TREE-SURFER Mature tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Isle of Man,UK. Posts: 337	I just got myself one of those ART rope devices, looks good Just waiting for a chance to use it...... __________________ The Aerial Arborist Isle of Man Tree Surgeon\| All Aspects of Tree Work What experts say about TOPPING

28th June 2007, 01:04 PM	#36
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: orlando,fl Posts: 4,977	taut line hitch Am i the only one who perfers the taut line hitch? __________________ Have your say join us today. old schooler

28th June 2007, 08:34 PM	#37
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Everyones into split tails these days, tautline is like vintage material but some vintages prefer it. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

1st July 2007, 02:14 AM	#39
jim1nz Mature tree Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: International, Germany Posts: 476	Im on the new Ocean polyester 10mm, EXCELLENT. I run a VT set up, i can give you a picture if anyone is interested. Variations are massive with this knot but when you get it right its perfect, selftailing, smooth... It has the polyester core insteed of the spectra core as the melting point is much higher, the sheath contains carbon fibre composite material so it lasts a long time also. __________________ SPEED ALWAYS FOLLOWS TECHNIQUE

1st July 2007, 08:30 PM	#41
JohN Dee Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Climbing around the world Posts: 855	I personally climb on a Martin hitch, smooth as ascent, and a nice lock when your sitting on it. It self tends and with the micro pulley it's smooth as. __________________ We are what we repeatedly do... Excellence then, is not an act, but HABIT... Red : Green : Blue

12th May 2007, 11:32 AM	#34
Marc Sappling Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 12	Been climbing on that Marlow rope for a while now Alba, its o.k cheap rope, fairly robust, my only complaint is its to hard compared to Yale or New England. But its a vast improvement over there old rope. Most Arb suppliers are selling it cheap now so it is good value. Fairfield looked at our knot I really like the bee-line hitch cord, its damn expensive stuff though. I've only used the bee-line with a knute, yours looks like a distil? Do you have the legs long because of the splice or is that how you prefer it? I tie mine with fishermans because its simpler adjustable and i can make the legs shorter, beside's i can go through hitch cord pretty quick. I'll post pics of my set-up soon

28th June 2007, 09:09 PM	#38
Sean Freeman Monument Status Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,985	Its been a long while since i spent the whole day climbing and cutting but when i do (and I will again) I reduce the amount of gear on my harness dramatically, so in traversing the canopy or from tree to tree with ground support (new TIP set from ground by Tim) I'll use the tail of my line tie a figure 8 and use a tautline I like it for that application, simple and reliable.

1st July 2007, 12:30 PM	#40
jtrouse Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Melbourne, Aus Posts: 63	Just wondered where you got the ocean polyster from? is it the stuff the the stiching or have you just spliced it?

1st July 2007, 11:44 PM	#42
jim1nz Mature tree Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: International, Germany Posts: 476	You can get it from Tree Pro - Tim Sharp, hes got a thread on this website. I have just got a fishermans on one end and a fisherman stopper on the other through a fixe pulley. This just saves room on the biner. I never splice my own prussics, its too much work for mot much at all, the machine stiched splices are nice though. __________________ SPEED ALWAYS FOLLOWS TECHNIQUE

3rd August 2007, 09:51 AM	#43
OsAGe85 Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Littlerock Arkansas US Posts: 59	Taut line hitch is the only one I know. I've been practicing in some trees in the yard and it seems to loosen up a lot. I'd definately like to try a few knots, any good recomendations. __________________ Gotta love the smell 2 stroke and wood chips. Be smart, be safe.

3rd August 2007, 02:36 PM	#44
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	I take a Blakes, 5 coil wrap though, tail goes thru coil 3 __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

3rd August 2007, 03:32 PM	#45
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: orlando,fl Posts: 4,977	I still tail tie climb with the tautline it just seems to fit my style better. __________________ Have your say join us today. old schooler

5th August 2007, 01:07 PM	#47
JohN Dee Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Climbing around the world Posts: 855	Yeah no worries Tree Surfer, i'm going rec climbing today i'll take a pic for you of my set up. __________________ We are what we repeatedly do... Excellence then, is not an act, but HABIT... Red : Green : Blue

6th August 2007, 03:06 AM	#48
Manx_Tree Sappling Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Isle of Man (for now) Posts: 30	Klemhiest all the way! __________________ Can't see the wood for the trees........ HNC Arboriculture, Diploma Forestry, NPTC, ISA PR4757-A

6th August 2007, 03:13 AM	#49
Manx_Tree Sappling Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Isle of Man (for now) Posts: 30	Its a nice small knot made on a 'Prussak' loop but so much better than the prussak knot. It never binds up but locks straight away. Try it. __________________ Can't see the wood for the trees........ HNC Arboriculture, Diploma Forestry, NPTC, ISA PR4757-A

6th August 2007, 03:11 PM	#51
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: orlando,fl Posts: 4,977	Still like my tautline. __________________ Have your say join us today. old schooler Last edited by Eric Frei; 6th August 2007 at 04:45 PM. Reason: disrespectful content toward professional member

15th August 2007, 11:45 AM	#52
Victor Lindsay Mature tree Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Earth Posts: 421	Hello all: First post! I use the blakes hitch and a micro pulley when working a tree. I've tried the VT, but find it difficault to body thrust with, maybe I'm not setting it up correctly, but it works great for rigging a 5-1. I use the Klemheist to foot lock, (binds less than the prusik), and use the prusik to balance rigging. I've never tried the tautline, and have heard nothing but bad about it, so probably never will. vl2007

15th August 2007, 04:28 PM	#53
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Good on you and welcome I'm sure a few Vt lovers will sort out that hitch, maybe post a pic of it. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

16th August 2007, 08:41 AM	#54
TREE-SURFER Mature tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Isle of Man,UK. Posts: 337	Looks pretty good that TreeCo. Might try that when next I do so climbing. Don't know about the body thrusting with it though, so would probably still use my Blakes on a split tail. __________________ The Aerial Arborist Isle of Man Tree Surgeon\| All Aspects of Tree Work What experts say about TOPPING

16th August 2007, 08:57 PM	#55
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Surfer, The guys climbing on those Vt style things dont bodythrust. They have a small prussik minding pulley or dog clip under it and pull down on the rope above the hitch and the hitch allows the tail of the rope to pass easily .... of course the higher you are the easier this happens as there's more weight in the rope. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

17th August 2007, 02:02 AM	#56
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: orlando,fl Posts: 4,977	Has anyone tried a micropulley on a tauline hitch yet?Does it work okay?I figured I would ask before I tried it. __________________ Have your say join us today. old schooler

17th August 2007, 11:48 PM	#57
Victor Lindsay Mature tree Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Earth Posts: 421	I'll try that. The vt is very smoooooth once you tweak it, and if i could body thrust with it, it maybe my new hitch. Thx for the info. I'll be trying the srt system soon, I don't like all the hardware needed to make it work, but hey, I didn't like the vt idea until now eather.

19th August 2007, 09:07 PM	#58
JohN Dee Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Climbing around the world Posts: 855	Yes TreeCo, that is the Martin's. Surfer, the Martins and body thrusting is a pain in the azz. The best way to tie it i've found is to keep the legs on the hitch short... But having said that the part of the hitch where the top wrap comes back down and goes behind and through the bottom wrap loves to creep around the back of the hitch releasing the friction resulting in yourself slowly creeping down your climbing line... I'm always onto this and have been experimenting with more/less wraps to try and fix it, but nothing has worked so far. Soon, if I can't find a way to make that part of the hitch static, i'm going to switch hitches because it is damned annoying. __________________ We are what we repeatedly do... Excellence then, is not an act, but HABIT... Red : Green : Blue

23rd August 2007, 06:10 AM	#59
OsAGe85 Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Littlerock Arkansas US Posts: 59	I'm working on using a micro pulley with a tautline. I figure it should work well since there are only 4 loops. (my version) any way. __________________ Gotta love the smell 2 stroke and wood chips. Be smart, be safe.

14th September 2007, 12:00 PM	#60
Recon Freak Sappling Join Date: May 2007 Location: Evansville,IN USA Posts: 7	Re: Friction hitches for climbing lines I climb on the VT and body thrust with it. I use a cabiner with the termination knot clipped to my harness. My VT is on a second carabiner. I then put a quick hitch on the termination side of my line about eye level with a little tension on the line. I clip the hitch carabiner into the quick hitch and I'm ready to go. When I get to work position I clip my hitch back to my saddle.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode